Zia Ahmed psc was a major general of the Bangladesh Army and former chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.[1][2]

Zia Ahmed
Born26 July 1954
Sujanargar, East Bengal, Pakistan
Died11 September 2012(2012-09-11) (aged 58)
United Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Buried
Banani Army Graveyard
Allegiance Bangladesh
Service / branch Bangladesh Army
Years of service1975-2009
Rank Major General
UnitCorps of Signals
Commands
Battles / warsONUMOZ

Early life

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Ahmed was born on 26 July 1954 in Sujanagar Upazila, Pabna District, East Pakistan, Pakistan.[3] His father was Sarder Jayenuddin, a notable poet.[3] He graduated from Tejgaon Polytechnic High School and Notre Dame College, Dhaka.[3]

Career

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Ahmed was commissioned in the Signals Corps of Bangladesh Army in 1975.[4]

Ahmed had served in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique.[4]

Ahmed was sent into forced retirement from Bangladesh Army during the 2001 to 2006 Bangladesh Nationalist Party government with the rank of brigadier general.[3] After Awami League came to power in 2009, Ahmed was promoted to major general and appointment chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in February 2009.[3] He replaced Major General Manzurul Alam.[5] He was appointed on a three-year contract.[6] He signed the agreement for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's Bangabandhu Satellite.[7] He had demanded 30 billion taka in taxes from Grameenphone, the largest telecom company in Bangladesh.[8] After Alam, Ahmed was the second Army officer to head the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.[9]

In November 2010, Ahmed spoke at an event organized by Lieutenant General Harun-Ar-Rashid which criticised the political statements issued by former Army officers in favor of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.[10] He also briefly blocked Facebook that year in Bangladesh.[11]

Ahmed made the pulse rate for cellphone operators at 10 seconds.[9] He struggled with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology over organizational jurisdiction harming ties between the two entities.[9]

Death

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Ahmed died on 11 September 2012 in United Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.[3] He was buried in Banani Army Graveyard.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Brig Gen Zia new BTRC chairman". The Daily Star. 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  2. ^ "Zia Ahmed: life as telecom regulator and beyond". The Daily Star. 2012-09-17. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "BTRC chief Zia Ahmed passes away". The Daily Star. 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  4. ^ a b c "BTRC chief Zia Ahmed buried". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  5. ^ "Zia Ahmed set for BTRC job". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  6. ^ "Zia Ahmed made BTRC chairman". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  7. ^ International, Space Partnership. "Bangabandhu Satellite for The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  8. ^ "EXCLUSIVEGP must pay: BTRC chief". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  9. ^ a b c Mamun, Abdullah (2012-09-11). "3 years of a telecom regulator". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  10. ^ "Keep armed forces above controversy". The Daily Star. 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  11. ^ "Facebook reopens". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.